Pneumatic straw



No. 617,352. '-Patented1an.|o',|a99. W5. J. & A. C. RANDOLPH.' PNE-UMATIC STRW STAGKER.

(No Model.) "25;Sheets -v$het I.

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ulm um 'ma Nonms mens cmwomuwmwnsumomu u c No. 617,352. Patentd 1am-10, |899.

w. .1. & A. c. BANDOL-PH. PNEUMATC STRAW STACKEB.

(Appiication med Jan. 24, 189s.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

`(No Model.)

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NTTED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

. WVILLIAM J.' RANDOLPH AND ALBERT C. RANDOLPH, OF JENNINGS,

LOUISIANA.

PNEUMATIC sTRAw-STACKEFL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,352, dated January 10, 189).

Application led Ianuary 24, 1898. Serial No. 667,764. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that we,WILLIAM J. RANDOLPH and ALBERT C. RANDOLPH, citizens of the United States, residing at Jennings, in the parish of Calcasieu and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Pneumatic Straw-Stacker, of which the following is a specification. j

This invention relates to pneumatic strawstackers of that type which are employed as an attachment for an ordinary grain-threshing machine to provide for discharging the straw onto the stack bya blast of air.

The present invention primarily contemplates an improved arrangement of fans and stacking-tubes which shall be of suiiicient capacity to freely dispose of all of the straw delivered from the separating devices of the machine, so as to avoid any possibility of choking.

The invention also has for its obj ect to provide improved means for distributing or feeding the straw to the blast devices or fans, so as to prevent accumulations of material within the rear end of the threshing-machine and to cause every particle of matter to be directed out through the stacking-tubes onto the stack, thereby insuring a steady and continuous stacking operation and a disposal of all material that passes through the threshing-machine, including the chad.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for adjusting or handling the apparatus to provide for the proper distribution of the straw on the stack and for the convenient transportation thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a pneumatic straw-stacking apparatus shown in connection with the rear end of a grain-threshing machine. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the stacking apparatus, includin g the rearportion of the threshing-machine. Fig. Sis a rear elevation of the apparatus, partly in section, so as to expose the fiat rotary distributer. Fig. 4 is 'a detail sectional view on the line lof Fig. 2, showing the distributer in elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, showing the universal-joint connection between each stacking-tube and the fan-discharge spout.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on' the line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of one of the hook-bands for each stacking-tube, showing the cable tie-rod connections therewith.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the casing of an ordinary grainthreshing machine, having arranged therein the usual straw-carrier2, below which is located the cleaning-shoe v3, operated in conjunction with the ordinary return-conveyer 4. In the present invention the cleaning-shoe 3 has detachably connected to its reark end by means of suitable detachable connections 5 the front end of a rearwardly-projecting shoe extension or chai -deliverer which shoe extension is suspended from the lower ends of swinging hanger-links 7, arranged within the thresher-casing and serving to support the shoe extension 6 for movement in unison with the main cleaning-shoe 3. The rearwardly-extending shoe extension 6 is provided with a perforate portion 8 and carries an inclined tail-board 9,arranged immediately below the perforate portion 8 and serving to deflect the screenings into the trough for the conveyer 4. Beyond its perforate portion 8 the shoe extension 6 is provided with a corrugated chaff-delivering Hoor or plate 10, which Works over the inner edge of the circular curbing or Wall ll,which forms the lower inclosing side for the transverse straw-chamber l2, arranged at the extreme rear end of the thresher-casing and below the delivering end of the straw-carrier 2, so as to receive therein all of the straw and chaff which are carried to the rear end of the machine. The corrugations ofthe cha-delivering floor or plate 10 serve to positively feed the chaii' and tailings into the straw-chamber within the rear end of the thresher-casing.

The transverse straw-chamber at the rear end of the thresher-casing is inclosed at its outer side by a removable door 13, having a detachable connection with the outer edge of the curbing or Wall 11 and capable of being readily removed when it is necessary to gain access to the straw-chamber. At opposite ends of the transverse straw-chamber 12 the thresher-oasing has tted therein the inner sides of the oppositely-located circular farb IOO casings 14, the outer sides of which fan-casings are securely fastened to the supporting bars or straps 15, arranged at the outer opposite sides of the rear extension of the threshercasing and securely fastened to the threshercasing at a point above the fan-casings to provide a firm support for the fan-casings, and thereby maintain the same perfectly rigid in their fixed positions at opposite sides of the machine. In order to securely brace the fancasings 14 and their supports 15, inclined brace-rods 16 and 17 are employed, the bracerods 16 being connected with the threshercasing and the upper sides of the fan-casiugs, while the lower brace-rods 17 extend from the lower ends of the supporting bars or straps 15 to the casing of the thresher, as clearly illustratedin Figs, 1 and 2 of the drawings. The structure is additionally braced by extending brace-rods 17 from the lower ends of the bars or straps 15 to the center of the rear transverse frame-bar 17b of the thresher.

The circular fan-casings 14 are disposed in vertical planes and are provided in their inner sides with the enlarged inlet eyes or openings 18, communicating with the interior of the straw-chamber 12 and sufficiently large to receive therethrough all of the straw that the fans are capable of drawing into the fan-casings. The said inlet-eyes 18 in the inner sides of the fan-casings 14 have their peripheries lying iiush with the ends of the circular curbing or wall 11 of the strawchamber, so that no projecting edges will be left to form lodging-points for the material, and thereby insuring a clean delivery of the material from the curbing or wall 11 into the fan-casings. It is also to be observed at this point that the corrugated chaff-delivery fioor 10 of the shoe extension provides for a complete delivery of the chaff into the strawchamber, so that all of the straw and chad will be carried directly into the suction of the rotary blast-fans 19, arranged for rotation within the circular fan-casings 14.

The oppositely-located rotary blast-fans 19 are mounted on a single transverse fan-shaft 20, extending longitudinally of the strawchamber 12 trom side to side of the threshercasing and journaled at its opposite extremities in bearing-collars 2l, fitted to the supporting bars or straps 15 on the exterior of the fan-casing, and said single fan-shaft 2O carries at one end a belt-pulley 22, receiving its motion from one of the shafts of the threshing-machine and providing means for communicating motion to both of the rotary fans, which are located at opposite sides of the thresher-casing.

The rotary blast-fans 19 essentially comprise a central hub or head 23, arranged close to the outer sides of the fan-casings, and a circular group of fan-blades 24, fastened to the radially-extending arms 25 of the hubs or heads 23. The fan-blades 24 of the oppositely-located rotary fans are provided with inner inclined edges 2G, flared toward the inlet-openings 18 of the fan-casings and serving to direct the straw out toward the outer ends of the blades, so as to carry it directly into the draft and at the same time prevent the straw from wrappingaround the fan-shaft and the hubs of the fans. The innerinclined edges 26 of the fan-blades also permit the opposite ends of the fiat rotary distributer 7 to project into the fan-casings and abut against the hubs of the rotary fans therein, thereby insuring a continuous and steady feed for the fans.

The flat straw-distributer 27 consists of a fiat plate or board, which extends longitudinally of the straw-chamber 12 and is of a length equaling the distance between the hubs of the oppositely -located fans. The said fiat straw-distributer 27 tapers toward each end from its transverse center and is therefore of an approximate diamond shape, with its wide angular portion 28 located at a central point between its ends and rotating within the central portion of the transverse straw-chamber 12. The latdiamond-shaped distributer 27 is preferably fastened to the transverse fan-shaft 20, so as to rotate therewith, by means of a plurality of securingstrips 29, embracing the fan-shaft and suitably secured to the distributer, and at this point it will be observed that the inclined edges of the distributer 27 serve to properly deflect the straw through the inlet-eyes 18 of the fan-Casin gs, while the central wide angular portion 2 8 of the distributer serves to pick up the straw and keep the same in a continual state of agitation and therefore within the suction of the oppositely-located fans. The distributer not only serves to assist in drawing the straw into the suctionl of the oppositely-located fans, but also agitates and loosens up the straw to prevent the same from accumulating between the fans and thereby choking the same. So in operation the distributer acts in the capacity of an agitator for the straw and also as a double cone for deflecting the same laterally into the fan-casings, where it is caught up by the rotary fans and blown through the inclined dischargespouts 30 of such casings.

The inclined discharge-spouts 30 of the oppositely-located fan-casings are extended tangentially from the casings, so as to receive the blast of air and straw impelled rearwardly by the fans, and each of the inclined dischargespouts 30 has fitted fast on its outer end a joint-ring 31, provided with an oval or rounded periphery 32, loosely and snugly receiving thereover the inner fiared end 33 of the vertically and laterally movable stacking tube 34, which can be adjusted to the desired inclination or position to provide for the proper distribution of the straw onto the stack.

By reason of employing a pair of duplicate stacking-tubes 34 (one for each fan-casing) there is no possibility of the stacking apparatus becoming choked, as the two stackingtubes are of a sufficient capacity to freely dis- IOO IIO

IZO

pose of all of the straw and chad delivered from the separating devices of the machine, and, furthermore, the use of two stackingtubes spaced a distance apart provides for distributing the straw over a greater area of stack than is possible by the use of a single tube.

The stacking-tubes 34 are duplicates of each other, and each of said tubes, by reason of having a flared inner end 33 fitted over the joint-ring 3l, is capable of a universal adjustment, and at this joint connection between each stack-tube and the dischargespout 30 in communication therewith the escape of air is prevented by means of a iieXible closure-piece 35, fitted on the joint-ring 3l and projected within the flared end 33 of the tube, so that the outward blast of air will serve to hold the said closure piece tight against the inner wall or side of the flared end 33, and thereby positively prevent leakage.

The oppositely-located stacking-tubes 34 are intended to be adjusted in unison, and to provide for this said tubes have fitted thereon at an intermediate point the hook-bands 36, provided at theirupper sides with hooks 37, detachably engaged by the eyes or loops 38 at the opposite ends of a transverse tierod 39, which tie-rod serves to rigidly connect the two stacking-tubes together, so that the same can be simultaneously moved by the same adjusting mechanism.

The vertical adjustment of the stackingtubes 34 is secured through the medium of the oppositely-located adjusting-cables 40, Winding and unwinding` at one end on the windlass-shaft 4l, journaled in suitable bearings on top of the thresher-casing and having a sprocket-and-chain operating mechanism 42 connected with one end thereof, so as to be readily turned to provide for raising or lowering the stacking-tubes.

The oppositely-located adjusting-cables 40 are arranged to Apass over the guide-pulleys 42, mounted in a bracket extension 43, projected from the upper ends of the supporting bars or straps 15, and the rear ends of said cables are fastened to the eyes or loops 38 at the ends of the transverse tie-rod 39 which connects the two stacking-tubes. v

A separate pair of cables 44 is employed for swinging the stacking-tubes 34 in a lateral direction, and these cables are respectively connected at one end to the oppositelylocated eyes or loops 38 of the transverse tierod 39. The adjustingcable 44 for each stacking-tube extends from its point of connection with such tube to the guide-pulley 45, arranged at the inner side of the adjustable spout 30 for the opposite stacking-tube, and from thence extends to the adjustingshaft 46, arranged at the outer sides of the fan-casings and journaled in bearing arms or brackets 47, fitted to and projected rearwardly from the casings. The adjustingshaft 46 is provided at its opposite ends with the crank-handles 4S, whereby the same may be readily manipulated to provide for the lateral movement of the stacking-tubes, and in order to insure the lateral movement of the stacking-tubes in the same direction the separate adjusting-cables44 wind and unwind on the shaft 46 in reverse directions, as

clearly illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings. V

When the machine is not in use and it is desired to arrange the parts compactly for the purpose of transportation, the stackingtubes 34 can be lifted directly off of the discharge-spouts 30 after the adjusting-cables have been properly loosened, as there is no positive connection between the said stacking-tubes and the discharge-spouts. After the stacking-tubes have been removed from the discharge-spouts the tie-rod 39 can be disconnected from the hooks 37, so that the two tubes can be hung in the rest-hooks 49, tted to one side of the thresher-casing, respectively near the front and rear ends thereof, the front or forward rest-hook not being illustrated in the drawings, as the same is a duplicate in construction of the rear hook 49 illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described pneumatic attachment for threshingmachines will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be further understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what `is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is`

1. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, a plurality of fan-casings having communication with the interior of the threshing-machine casing, rotary fans arranged within said fan-casings, and a plurality of duplicate stacking-tubes connected together for simultaneous movement and each connected with a separate fancasing, substantially asset forth.

2. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination ot' the thresher-casing provided at its rear end with a transverse straw-chamber inclosed at its lower side by a circular curbing or wall, oppositely-located fan-Casin gs having in their inner sides inlet-eyes communieating with such straw-chamber and having their peripheries flush with the ends of said curbing or wall, said fan-casings also having tangential discharge-spouts, rotary fans arranged to work in the fan-casings and a pair of duplicate connected simultaneously-adj ustable stacking-tubes connected respectively with the separate discharge-spouts, substantially as set forth.

3. In a pneumatic straw-stacker,a threshercasing provided at its rear end with a transverse straw-chamber, oppositely-located fancasings arranged at opposite sides of the thresher-casing and communicating at their Ioo ISO

inner sides with said straw-chamber, said fan-casings having tangential dischargespouts, the rotary fans, supporting bars or straps secured to the opposite sides of the thresher-casing and having bolted thereto the outer sides of the fan-casings, brace connections between the thresher-casing and the fancasing and the supporting bars or straps therefor and a pair of duplicate connected simultaneously-ad j ustable stacking-tubes connected respectively with the separate dischargespouts, substantially as set forth.

4. In a pneumatic straw stacker, the thresher casing having an inclosed transverse straw-chamber at its rear end, oppositely-located fan-casings having dischargespouts and provided at their inner sides with inlet-eyes communicating with the ends of the straw-chamber, the rotary fans working in said casings, and a fiat rotary diamondshaped distributer arranged longitudinally within the straw-chamber, substantially as set forth.

5. In a pneumatic straw stacker, the thresher-casing provided at its rear end with an inclosed straw-chamber, fan-casings arranged at the ends of the said chamber and having discharge-spouts, and at their inner sides provided with inlet-eyes, a single transverse fan-shaft extending longitudinally through the straw-chamber,rotary fans arranged within the fan-casings mounted on said shaft, and a flat rotary diamond-shaped distributer fastened on said fan-shaft and having its contracted or narrowed ends projected into the fan-casings, substantially as set forth.

G. In a pneumatic straw stacker, the thresher-casing having an inclosed strawchamber at its rear end, oppositely-located fan-casings having in their inner sides inleteyes communicating with said chamber, a single fan-shaft extending longitudinally of the straw-chamber, rotary fans mounted on said shaft within the fan-casings and having their blades provided with inner inclined edges, and a flat rotatable diamond-shaped distributer fastened on the fan-shaft and having a central wide angular portion working within the straw-chamber, the narrow ends of said distributer projecting into the fancasings and abutting against the hubs of the fans, substantially as setforth.

7. In a pneumatic straw stacker, the threshercasing, a pair of fan-casings arranged at opposite sides of the thresher-casing and provided at their inner sides with inlet-eyes and with tangential discharge-spouts, the rotary fans arranged within said fan-casings, a pair of duplicate stacking-tubes having a movable connection respectively with 6o the separate spouts, and means for adjusting said stacking-tubes in unison, substantially as set forth.

8. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, a pair of oppositely-located fan-casings having communication with the interior of the threshermachine casing and provided with ofstanding discharge-spouts, rotary fans arranged within the said fan-casings, a pair of duplicate stacking-tubes connected respectively 7o with the separate discharge-spouts,and means for adjusting said tubes in unison, substantially as set forth.

9. In a pneumatic straw stacker, the

thresher-casing, a pair of oppositely-located fan-casings having communication with the interior of the thresher-casing and provided with offstanding discharge-spouts, the rotary fans arranged within the fan-casings, a pair of duplicate stacking-tubes having a movable 8o connection at their inner ends respectively with the separate discharge-spouts, a detachable tie-rod connection between the two stacking-tuhes,adj usting mechanism for adjusting said tubes in a vertical direction, an adjusting-shaft mounted in a fixed position below the plane of the stacking-tubes, and a pair of adj Listing-cables crossing each other between the tubes and connected at one end respectively with the separate tubes, said adjust- 9o ing-cables being guided around suitable pulleys and winding in reverse directions on the adjusting-shaft, substantially as set forth.

l0. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, a blastfan casing provided with a discharge-spout,

a joint-ring fitted 011 the outer end of said discharge spout, a stacking-tube having a flared inner end loosely iittin g over said jointring, and a iieXible closure-piece fitted to the joint-ring and projected within the iiared end loo 

